Jim Engster

James R. Engster is a journalist and host of “The Jim Engster Show” heard live on Louisiana radio stations that include flagship station WBRP-FM in Baton Rouge;[1] WSLA-AM in New Orleans; KMBS-AM in Monroe; KTIB-AM in Thibodaux and KASO-AM in Minden/Shreveport. The show is heard Monday-Friday from 4-6 p.m. Central Time and offers callers the chance to talk to live guests who appear in studio or via telephone. Topics vary widely from news to politics to interviews of prominent personalities.

Engster is also owner and president of Louisiana Radio Network which provides news, sports and agricultural news statewide. He serves as president of the National Association of State Radio Networks and is a political analyst for WAFB-TV 9 in Baton Rouge.[2]

With a career spanning three decades, Engster has interviewed nine Louisiana governors and reported on every gubernatorial election since 1975. Other prominent politicians he has spoken with include former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Dick Cheney.

Engster has also shared the microphone with journalists like Ted Koppel and Carl Bernstein, writers Ernest Gaines, Dean Koontz and Rex Reed, as well as Hollywood actors like Debbie Allen and Pam Grier.

From 1983-1998, Engster served as a reporter and news director for Louisiana Network. Engster stepped away from the newsroom in 1998 to host “Louisiana Live,” a syndicated call-in talk show airing on more than 20 affiliates. “Louisiana Live” was named best public affairs program three times by the Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press Managing Editors.

From 2003-2006, Engster served as general manager of WRKF-FM. In 2006, Engster returned to Louisiana Network as general manager. In April 2010, Engster bought a controlling interest in the network after the Federal Trade Commission granted its permission. Now serving as president, Engster renamed the company Louisiana Radio Network to reflect the medium. From 2004-October 2014, “The Jim Engster Show” was heard live on NPR affiliate WRKF-FM.[3]

In addition to his work in radio, Engster also is a long-time featured columnist and current president of Tiger Rag Magazine, “the Bible of LSU sports.” Acquired by LRN in 2000, the magazine focuses on sports at Louisiana State University, where Engster earned a degree. He analyzes numerous LSU sports teams, including football, baseball, basketball, and track and field. Engster’s column “Statistically Speaking” incites frequent comments from readers and LSU insiders.

Throughout his broadcasting career, Engster garnered several industry awards. The Public Relations Association of Louisiana named him Communicator of the Year in 2008. The YWCA Greater Baton Rouge awarded him the Racial Justice Award in 2011 for his “tireless on-air advocacy of racial and social issues.” Engster was inducted into the Louisiana State University’s Manship School Hall of Fame in 2012. He served as president of the Baton Rouge Press Club in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and is serving a 2014 term. He served as vice president of the organization in 2008 and 2010. Also in 2014, Engster became president of the National Association of Statewide Radio Networks,[4] known as StateNets, which provides customized, regional radio advertising campaigns for marketers nationwide.

Engster is a New Orleans native, born January 15, 1958.

References

  1. ↑ Baton Rouge Business Report "Moving Up the Dial" 9.2.2014
  2. ↑ WAFB 9.18.2014 6 pm News
  3. ↑ The Advocate "Engster Show Changing Stations" 9.4.2014
  4. ↑ NOLA.com "Jim Engster named StateNets President" 7.12.2014

External links